Power-transmitting device.



'Nm 841,179. PATBNTED JAN. 15, 1907.

- J. PUTNAM.

POWER'TRANSMITTING DEVICE.v

APPLUATION FILED AUG. 6, 1906.

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ATTORNEYS 'PATENT orrron.

UNITED STATES POWER-TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

ASpecificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Applioatinled August 6,1906. Serial No. 329,413.

To all whom t 'W1/ty concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Treloar, in the county of Warren and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Power-Transmitting Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to power-transmitting devices, such as are adapted particularly for use in connection with traction steamengines for transmitting power to the wheels thereof, although the device of the present invention can be used in other connections whenever desired. e

Some traction-engines are provided with a stiff gear connectionbetween the engine and the wheels, so that when it is desired suddenly to reverse the e engine considerable strain is imposed upon the gear connections.

The object of the present invention lis to provide a power-transmitting device which Will properly communicate the vnecessary movement from the engine to the drivewheels and which will also be capableof permitting a certain amount of loose movement between the engine and the drive-wheels when it is desired to reverse or stop the former.

A further object of the invention is to combine with a power-transmitting device ofthe character above specified novel ratchet mechanism which can be Y' positively reversed through the action of the engine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which willv appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the following claims without departing vfrom the s irit of the invention or sacrificing any of its a vantages.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a powertransmitting device constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, partly in plan. Fig. 3 is a iperspective view of the set of radial arms, and

Figs. 4 and5 are detail views of the oppositely-extending pawls.

Like Vreference `characters indicate rcorresponding parts in the diHerent figures of the drawings.

The Ireference-numeral 1 indicates an annulus or drivingelement which is adaptedto be rotated from any suitable source of power. The driving element `l is provided with-a plurality of inwardly-extending lugs 2 upon the inner face thereof. The vlugs 2 project into elongated recesses 3, lformed in the periphery of a circular supporting member 4, upon which/the driving'element yl is loosely mounted. When power is applied. to the driving element yl to rotate the same, the lugs 2 move forward inthe recesses 3 untilthey engage the forward ends of said recesses, after which the supporting member 4 is caused to `rotate with the driving element 1. When the movement of the driving element l is reversed, the lugs 2 will engage the rear Walls of the elongated resesses 8 and cause the supporting member 4 to rotate in the opposite direction. The movement of ythe lugs 2 within the elongated recesses 3 permits a certain amount of loose movement between the driving element l and the supporting member 4 when said driving element is reversed, the degree of this loose movem ent being regulated by the length of the elongated recesses 3as will be apparent.

The supporting member 4 preferably consists of a pair of spaced disks a and b, which are mounted in any desired manner upon a main shaft 5. the supporting member are located in the periphery of the spaced disks aand b, as shown. Each of the disks c and b is formed in the central portion of the youter face thereof with an annularchamber 6 concentric with the main shaft 5. Mounted in the annular chamber 6 of each spaced'disk c and b is a ratchet `member 7, which is capable of rotatin upon the main shaft 5. Each of the space disks c and b is formed with a plurality of pawl-recesses 8, which intersect or lead into the adjacent annular chamber 6. Mounted in the pawl-recesses 8 is a set of pawls 9, which are adapted to engage the ratchet member 7 for rotating the same in one direction, and a second set of pawls l0 forv rotating said ratchet -member in the opposite direction, it being understood that: when one set of pawls is in engagement with the ratchet member the other set isdisengaged. Each of the pawls 10 is provided with a small pawl-shaft 11,

The elongated recesses 3 of' IOO which extends entirely through the disk and is provided with a pawl-iinger 12, located in the space between the disks (v and t opposite the pawl-iinger of the corresponding pawl on the opposite disk. Each of the pawl-lingers 12 is provided with an inwardly-extending shoulder 13, which is in the' path of oneof a set of radially-extending arms 14, which are located in the space between the disks a and b and are rigidly connected at their outer ends with the driving element A1. The inner ends of the radial arms 14 are connected with a sleeve 15, which is loosely mounted upon the main shaft 5. 1f desired, wearplates or washersy 16 may be interposed between the inner ends ofthe radial arms 14 and the spaced disks a and b, as shown. The preferred means for holding the spaced disks a and in rigid relation consists of connecting-pins17, which extend between the outer ends of the radial arms 14. The arrangement of the pawl-fingers 12 of the two sets of pawlsl 9 and 10 is such that when the radial arms 14 lare, moved in one direction one set of pawls will be engaged by said arms and positively moved out of engagement with the ratchet members 7, at w ich time the other set of pawls will drop either by gravity or by means of small coil-springs 18 into engagement with the ratchet members, and when said radial arms are moved in the other direction the last-mentioned set of pawls will be moved positively out of engagement with the ratchet members, and the other set of pawls will be forced into engagement there-j with byimeans ofthe coil-springs 1S.

Constructed as described it will be understood that when the driving element 1 is beinfr rotated in a forward direction the lugs 2 will en `age the forward ends of the recesses 3 and t e radial arms 14 will be moved forward, so as to lift one set of pawls out of engagement with the ratchet members 7 and permit said ratchet members to be rotated with the supporting member 4 by means of the other set of pawls, and when thedriving element 1 is reversed the lugs 2, together with the radial arms 14, will be swung in thel opposite direction with relation to the recesses 3, so that the other set of pawls will be positively disengaged from the ratchet members, it being understood that the supporting member 4 will be capable of a certain amount ofV loose movement during the rei members 7 is connected 1n any siutable manversing operation. Each of thei ratchet ner with one of the drive-wheels or other members of the engine, and by reason of the y,; ment with the ratchet members, either by gravity or by means of the springs 18, it will be obvious that one of the whee s of the engine will be permitted to rotate more rapidly of this invention is strong, simple, durable,

and inexpensive in construction, as well as thoroughly efficient in operation.

What is 'claimed is- 1. A power-transmitting device comprising a supporting member composed of spaced disks, a driving element encircling the same and capable of limited movement with relation to said supporting member, a ratchet member, oppositely-acting pawls carried by said supporting member, and means between the disks and operated by said driving element for positively moving one of said pawls out of engagement with said ratchet member and for permitting the other pawl to engage said ratchet member.

2. A power-transmitting device comprising a supporting member composed of spaced disks, a driving element encircling the member and capable of limited movement with relation thereto, va ratchet member, pawls carried by said supporting member for engaging said ratchet member, and radial arms adapted to be operated by said driving element for positively disengaging said pawls from said ratchet member. l

3. A power-transmitting device comprising a supporting member having an annular f IOO erated by said driving element and disposed in the path of the'said means for positively IlO disengaging one set of pawls from the ratchet member.

4. A power-transmitting device comprising a supporting member having elongated recesses therein, a driving element having lugs fitted loosely into said elongated recesses,\a plurality of sets of oppositely-acting pawls carried by said supporting member, a plurality of ratchet members adapted to be engaged by said pawls, and a plurality of radial arms adapted to be operated by said driving element and disposed between the ratchet members and sets of pawls for positively disengaging some of' said pawls from said ratchet members. y

5. A power-transmitting device comprising a supporting member consisting of a pair of spaced disks each having an annular chamber and elongated recesses, a driving element having lugs loosely fitted into the said elongated recesses, a ratchet member mounted in the annular chamber of each disk, oppositelyacting sets of pawls carried by each disk for engaging said ratchet members, and radial arms located between said spaced disks and connected with said driving element for releasing one set of pawls Jfrom engagement with said ratchet members.

6. A power-transmitting device compris ing a supporting member consisting of a pair of spaced disks each having a plurality of elongated recesses, a centrally-disposed annular chamber and a plurality of pawl-recesses opening into said chamber, a ratchet member mounted in the annular chamber of each of said disks, a plurality of oppositelyacting pawls mounted in said pawl-recesses and adapted to engage said ratchet members, each of said pawls having a pawl-shaft eX- tending through the adjacent disk and having a pawl-finger located in the space between said disks, a plurality of radial arms mounted between said disks and adapted to engage said pawl-iingers for moving either set of pawls out of engagement with said ratchet members, and a driving element surrounding said disks and connected with said radial arms, said driving element having lugs projecting into the elongated recesses of said disks. i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH PUTNAM.

Witnesses H. F. PLOEGER, J AooB SUTLER, 

